Oakland Global Newsletter – October 2014

  • by BPC Staff
  • on October 31, 2014
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OAKLAND GLOBAL NEWS

Monthly Updates on the Oakland Global Trade & Logistics Center Project

 

OAB MAIN VIEW

Oakland Global News, October 2014

Dear Reader,

 

Oakland Global News is a monthly newsletter for readers interested in staying current as the Oakland Global Trade & Logistics Center (former Oakland Army Base) project evolves.

Oakland Global Construction Anniversary

 

In October, the Oakland Global Trade and Logistics Center project celebrated a one-year anniversary of breaking ground.

 

During the past year the project has completed a long list of tasks, including, but not limited to, removing aging and obsolete warehouses, installing storm drains and electrical distribution systems and grading for new building sites.

 

The construction work has relied on a lot of new manpower and the project is proud that it has created numerous jobs while cumulative project numbers exceed local hiring goals included in agreements signed by developers, the community and the City of Oakland.

 

“Hundreds of individuals and companies have come together to accomplish everything the project set out to do and more in its first year. Everyone – from the City of Oakland and developers, to contractors and laborers, should be extremely proud of the results,” said Phil Tagami, CEO of California Capital & Investment Group, the City of Oakland’s lead development partner.

 

Hiring data through October shows that 570 workers have been employed on the job, 192 of whom are Oakland residents.

A breakdown of hiring on the project so far is as follows:

  • 50.5% percent of construction work hours have been performed by Oakland residents
  • 22.3% of construction work hours have been performed  by Apprentices
  • 64.8% of Apprentice construction work hours have been performed by Disadvantaged Workers

In addition to individual hires, the project has surpassed goals for contracting with local and small businesses. For instance, 85 percent of construction and professional service contracts have been executed with local businesses and small local businesses as defined by the City of Oakland. One hundred percent of the project’s trucking contracts have gone to local companies.

Local Businesses Gain Marketable Skills

 

The Oakland Global Project is exceeding its contracting goals for local and small businesses (see the article above). The project also pursues opportunities to train local businesses in new and valuable construction skills.

 

One example is Focon Inc., an Oakland small business which has specialized in excavating, underground drainage and minor concrete work. During the past several months, the prime Oakland Global contractor has trained Focon employees in managing contaminated water disposal and operating a water treatment facility.

 

Scott Erwin is the project executive with prime contractor Turner, TopGrade, Flatiron, the joint venture managing Oakland Global’s infrastructure construction. Erwin said that Focon learned the ropes of water treatment by removing and hauling contaminated water from abandoned utilities being replaced as part of the project. Initially Focon transported the contaminated water to EBMUD for treatment. Since then the project has built its own water treatment facility, which has processed 10 million gallons of water, Erwin said.

 

“Focon will now have the opportunity to design this type of water treatment system for other projects in the Bay Area. There are not a lot of people out there with that know-how,” Erwin said.

 

Oakland Global strives to hire and train as many local employees as possible. In addition, a binding development agreement requires that 50 percent of all construction contract outlays go to local and small business, as defined by the City of Oakland. Currently, 85 percent of the project’s construction and professional service contract dollar amount totals are going to local and small businesses.

Jobs Open House in November    

 

The West Oakland Job Resource Center is partnering with the West Oakland Library and West Oakland Neighborhood Career Center to hold an Open House on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014 from 1 p.m. to 3p.m.

 

The Open House will give the public an opportunity to visit the employment programs at the Library, learn about services and enjoy light refreshments and live music. If you plan to attend, please RSVP towestoaklandjobresourcecenter@gmail.com.

 

The West Oakland Job Resource Center (WOJRC) developed out of community meetings related the Oakland Global project and is incorporated into the project’s binding jobs policies. The center is a joint project between the City of Oakland, employers, unions, community organizations and developers.

 

The center’s work includes orientations, assistance with resumes and cover letters, tutoring for apprenticeship exams, and outreach to employers. A driving force for the WOJRC was to help the Oakland Global project and other contractors working with the city to meet local hiring goals.

 

The WOJRC works closely with the West Oakland Neighborhood Career Center which offers  general career counseling, job search assistance, and pre-employment and life skills training.

 

Services are available Monday-Friday, 9a.m. – 5 p.m., West Oakland Library, 1801 Adeline Street, 2nd Floor. The library can be accessed by the AC Transit NL and 26 lines. Job seekers can pre-register to attend orientations by calling: 510-419-0509.

Project Prepares for Weather; Protects Bay

Now that fall is here, the Oakland Global project is preparing for wetter weather and potentially more water traveling into storm drains and to the bay.

 

The project has a state-mandated Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan that dictates best practices for handling storm water runoff,

Storm drain fabric filter

which it follows 12 months out of the year. Specific actions related to expected rain are underway. Those include the following:

  • Sandbags to reduce soil erosion
  • Straw wattles to interrupt sediment flow into drains
  • Crushed asphalt placed on bare soil sites
  • Regular street sweeping
  • Rock entrance driveway protections

Issue 25

IN THIS ISSUE

Anniversary!

Construction Skills

Jobs Open House

Bay Protection

 

 

QUICK LINKS

Oakland Global Website 

Stay informed

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about the Oakland Global Trade & Logistics Center development. I believe that the Oakland Global Newsletter will prove to be a useful tool for staying informed and current on this important project going forward.

Sincerely,

Phil Tagami

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